Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from wells



July 9, 1957 T. o. ALLEN ETAL' APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING FLUID FLOW FROMWELLS Filed June 50, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tho/77 as 0. A//e/7 6//be/-fh. Tamra/2 INVENTOR5 ATTORNEY July 9, 1957 T. o. ALLEN ET AL 2,798,560

APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING FLUID FLOW FROM WELLS Filed June 50, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 F f i T4 r 29 :1 M 38 2,

a 1 l 22 I 5 3/ v 5/ j 50 "j 27 V INVENTORS o I H 37 United StatesPatent Office 2,798,569 Patented July 9, 1957 APPARATUS FOR OBTAININGFLUID FLOW FROM WELLS Thomas 0. Allen and Gilbert H. Tausch, Houston,Tern, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Essa Research and EngineeringCompany, Elizabeth, N. 3., a corporation of Delaware Application June30, 1954, Serial No. 440,512

6 Claims. (Cl. 166-485) The present invention in directed to apparatusfor obtaining fluid flow from wells. More particularly, the invention isdirected to apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from a selected intervalin a well. In its more specific aspects the invention is concerned withapparatus for use on tubular members lowered into the tubing string.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus forobtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetrated by a cased andtubed well in which the tubing is permanently located with its loweropen end at a level a substantial distance above the earth stratum fromwhich fluid flow is obtained. The apparatus comprises, in combination,an elongated tubular member open at both ends having vertically spacedapart first and second ports intermediate the ends of said tubularmember. The elongated tubular member is adapted to be lowered throughthe tubing and to be supported in the lower end of the tubing toincrease the effective length of the tubing to said earth stratum. Thetubular member is provided with a supporting means on the upper end ofthe tubular member and a deformable packing member is carried on thetubular member to enclose the ports. The deformable packing member hasan external diameter when collapsed smaller than the internal diameterof the tubing to allow the packing member to be lowered on the tubularmember through the tubing. The tubular member has a first valve meansarranged thereon within the deformable member in fluid communicationwith the first port to allow fluid flow from the tubular member throughthe port to expand the deformable member but to restrict fluid flow fromthe space inside the deformable member into the tubular member.Expansion of the deformable member causes same to seal with the wall ofthe casing. A second valve means is provided in the tubular membernormally closing the second port. A releasable first restriction meansis arranged in the tubular member for restricting fluid flow through thetubular member for imposition of pressureon the first valve means toexpand the deformable member. A second releasable restriction means isprovided in the tubular member for imposing pressure on the second valvemeans to collapse the deformable member by pressure exerted on theexterior of the deformable member to cause fluid flow from the spaceenclosed by the deformable member into the tubular member.

The first valve is a back pressure valve which is arranged in fluidcommunication with the first port while the second valve means is aslidable valve which is normally held against the tubular member byfrangible means such as a shear pin.

and retrieved therefrom by a wire line carrying a fishing tool.

The deformable packing member is provided with a slidable sleevenormally enclosing said deformable packing member when the tubularmember is lowered through the tubing. Means are provided for moving theslidable sleeve from enclosing relationship with the deformable packingmember to allow the latter to be expanded into sealing engagement withthe wall of the casing.

The deformable packing member may be an internally reinforced memberconstructed of synthetic or natural rubber and the like. The internalreinforcement may be fabric cords and the like but preferably theinternal reinforcement comprises steel stays or small diameter wire toprevent the packing member from becoming distorted or permanentlydeformed.

In the course of producing an oil well economically, it is sometimesnecessary to prevent excessive salt water production. Ordinarily thismay be accomplished by squeeze cementing the producing interval fromwhich the salt water is being obtained to exclude the salt water fromthe well casing. In this common procedure the casing may be reperforatedin the same interval, but removed from the salt water zone, to obtainoil and/or gas production. The problem in such selective exclusionmethods of salt water has been to determine the source of the unwantedsalt water in the well casing. This has been accomplished in the past byemployment of a flowmeter survey but this solution has not beensatisfactory because the flowmeters available do not distinguish oiland/or gas production from salt water production. Also, it is possiblefor oil production to underlie salt water production where the producinginterval consists of lamellar sand beds or strata of varyingpermeability.

This problem is solved satisfactorily in the present invention byproviding apparatus for use in a cased and tubed well where the tubingis permanently arranged above the highest of a series of lamellar sandbeds or strata of varying permeability. In the present invention atubular member is run through the tubing which carries a collapseddeformable packing member which serves to isolate selectively a portionof the perforated section to allow flow only from another portion of theperforated section in the casing.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the lower end of the apparatus of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the slidable sleeve for enclosing the packer;

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention ona tubular member embodying a plurality of deformable members; and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the deformable member of Fig. 3 inthe collapsed position.

Referring now to the drawings in which identical numerals will beemployed to designate identical parts, numeral 11 designates a boreholewhich has been drilled in the earths surface to penetrate a producinginterval or stratum A from which hydrocarbons such as oil and/or gas, asWell as undesirable fluids such as salt water are being produced.

Arranged in the borehole 11 is a casing 12 which has been cemented inplace with primary cement 13. The casing 12 and the cement 13 have beenperforated, as with a tubing gun perforator, to form perforations 14 toopen communication between the interior of the casing 12 and the sand A.

Since salt water production is being obtained from an undetermined zonein the interval A, it is desirable to isolate a portion of theperforated section and to obtain product-ion of fluid only from selectedperforations. Under these conditions a tubular member, such as 15, islowered through the tubing, such as 16, on a wire line, not shown, andlanded in a landing nipple 17, such as illustrated in the CompositeCatalog, page 4063, 19th edition, 1952-53. The space between the tubularmember and the tubing 16 is sealed with a seal such as chevron packing18. The tubular member 15 has a fishing neck 19 on its upper end forengagement with the fishing tool on the lower end of the wire line, notshown. The tubular member 15 may be provided with one or more deformablepacking members 20 which are mounted on the tubular member 15 to enclosevertically spaced apart ports 21 and 22.

The deformable packing member is suitably constructed of deformablematerial such as natural or synthetic rubber and is internallyreinforced with steel stays or Wires 23 which prevent the deformablematerial from taking a permanent set. The deformable packing member 20is connected at its upper end to the tubular member 15 by sleeve orthimble 24 and at its lower end to the tubular member 15 by a secondsleeve or thimble 25.

Arranged within the space 26, enclosed by the deformable packing member20, is a back pressure valve 27 which fluidly communicates space 26which the interior of the tubular member 15 through the port 21. Theback pressure valve 27 may be of any conventional type back pressurevalve and may be arranged interiorly or exteriorly of member 15 but isshown here as a valve including a housing 28 attached to the interior ofthe tubular member 15, enclosing a plunger 29 which is biased againstflow backwardly into the tubular member by means of a spring 30.

Normally arranged in closed relationship with the port or ports 22 is aslidable valve member 31 which is held in sealing engagement with portor ports 22 by a frangible means such as a shear pin 32. The slidablevalve member 31 is provided with O-rings 33 and 34 arranged in suitablerecesses 35 and 36, respectively, to allow a seal between the interiorof the tubular member 15 and the slidable valve 31.

The lower end of the tubular member 15 may be completely open or may beprovided with a plurality of ports 37 for flow of fluid into theapparatus of the present invention.

The tubular member 15 has a restricted cross sectional area 38 such thatflow through the tubular member may be restricted to impose pressure onthe back pressure valve 27. Also the slidable sleeve 31 defines arestricted cross sectional area 39 which may be closed by suitablerestriction means to allow imposition of pressure on the sleeve 31 torupture the frangible means 32 and to open the passageway 22 forcollapse of the deformable member 20 by well pressure imposed on theexterior thereof, causing fluid to flow into the tubular member.

Referring to Fig. 2 specificially, it will be noted that a movablesleeve 40 provided with a plurality of ports 41 serves to enclosedeformable packing member 20 while lowering same through the tubing toprotect the member 20 from damage by contact with the interior of thetubing 16. The upper end of the sleeve 40 is provided with dogs orlatching means 42 for engagement with the landing nipple 17 to allow thedeformable packing member 20 to be freed for expansion into sealingengagement.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the tubularmember 15 has been lowered into landing nipple 17 and carries aplurality of deformable packing members 20. In this particular instanceit is desired to isolate the perforations 14 in the upper level ofstratum A and to obtain fluid from the perforations 43 in a verticallydisplaced level of the stratum A or from a vertically displaced stratum,as the case may be. By providing a plurality of deformable members 20the perforations 14 have been isolated and fluid flow is obtainedthrough the perforations 43 as indicated by the arrows.

In operating the present invention, a tubing extension member 15, whichcarries a packer, such as 20, constructed of reinforced rubber havinginternal steel stays, or wire, will be run through the tubing 16 havingan internal diameter of about one inch and constructed of lightweightaluminum pipe. The deformable member 20 is run in the collapsed andfolded position covered by the sleeve 40. The tubular member 15 islowered in the tubing 16 and supported in the landing nipple 17 suchthat a small amount of the perforated interval in the stratum A isexposed beneath the packer. Although in the specific example a landingnipple has been shown for supporting the tubular extension member, aslip-type hanger and other mechanical supporting means and seals may beemployed. As the apparatus of the present invention is lowered into theopen end of the tubing, the packer cover is removed by engaging with thelanding nipple and the packer is freed for expansion. Thereafter, aretrievable bar plug, such as 50, having a fishing neck 51 is run in ona wire line and lowered into the extension. This bar plug may be allowedto seat in the area 38 which may have a passageway of about one-halfinch. Fluid is then pumped into the tubing with a pump, not shown,located at the earths surface. Pressure is exerted upon the packerinternally through the back pressure valve 27 which opens and allowsfluid to flow into and fill the space 26. Pressure is then released fromthe tubing and the one-half inch bar plug, such as 50, is retrieved. Thewell may then be swabbed or gas-lifted to obtain a rate and fluid sampleof the producing interval exposed beneath the packer.

The packer 20 constructed of rubber may be S to 10 feet in length inorder to blank ofi the upper section of the producing interval or toprevent flow past the packer rubber, since it is exposed to the pressuredrawdown of the well. By using a long deformable packing member thepacker will act as a diaphragm across the perforation holes.

The fluid is then conducted to the well-head through the tubular member15 and the tubing 16 and conducted to a surface container and/ or meter,as desired, to ascertain the water percentage of the fluid obtained.

After obtaining a satisfactory flow of fluid of the inter val of stratumA, for example, enclosed by the deformable member 20, a 11-inch barplug, such as has been illustrated, is lowered into the tubular member15 through tubing 16 to seat in the passageway 39 as shown in Fig. 4 torestrict flow therethrough. Fluid is then pumped into the tubing withthe pump at the surface, not shown, to shear the shear pin 32 which itis designed to rupture at a predetermined pressure. This causes thesleeve 31 to move downwardly to expose the ports 22 which serve tocollapse the deformable member 20 by pressure exerted on the exteriorsurface of the deformable member 20 by imposing pressure in the annulus60 above the packer 20 It is to be understood that the size of thetubular extension member 15 may vary from 1 inch and the size of thesleeve 31 defining the passageway 39 may also vary. Likewise, the areaof passageway 38 may also be varied.

The packer sleeve 40 may be removed as has been described, or it may beremoved by manipulation of the tubular member 15 back into the tubing 16to force the cover off the packer 20.

It is to be understood that I may provide a plurality of packer members20 on the extension member 15 to obtain flow from increments of theproducing interval.

Many modifications of the present invention are possible. For example,instead of using a retrievable bar plug other retrievable seatingmembers may be used. It is only necessary that a retrievable means maybe used to close off the passageway through the tubular member to allowpressure to be imposed to expand the packer and to open the valve toallow deflating of the packer.

The nature and objects of the present invention having a a beencompletely described and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new anduseful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetratedby a cased and tubed well in which the tubing is permanently locatedwith its lower open end at a level a substantial distance above theearth stratum from which fluid flow is obtained which comprises, incombination, an elongated tubular member open at both ends havingvertically spaced apart first and second ports intermediate the ends ofsaid tubular member adapted to be lowered through the tubing and to besupported in the lower end of the tubing to increase the effectivelength of the tubing to said earth stratum, sup porting means on theupper end of said tubular member, means on the lower end of said tubingadapted to engage said supporting means for supporting said tubularmember, a deformable packing member carried on said tubular memberenclosing said ports having an external diameter when collapsed smallerthan the internal diameter of the tubing for lowering through saidtubing, first valve means arranged on said tubular member within saiddeformable member in fluid communication with said first port adapted toallow fluid flow from said tubular member only to expand said deformablemember into sealing engagement with the casing, second valve means insaid tubular member normally closing said second port, removable firstrestriction means positionable in said tubular member below said firstport for restricting fluid passage through said tubular member toimpress fluid pressure on said first valve means to open said firstvalve means and thereby expand said deformable member, and removablesecond restriction means seatable on said second valve means in saidtubular member by impressing fluid pressure on said second restrictionmeans for opening said second valve means thereby collapsing saiddeformable member.

2. Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetratedby a cased and tubed well in which the tubing is permanently locatedwith its lower open end at a level a substantial distance above theearth stratum from which fluid flow is obtained which comprises, incombination, an elongated tubular member open at both ends havingvertically spaced apart first and second ports intermediate the ends ofsaid tubular member adapted to be lowered through the tubing and to besupported in the lower end of the tubing to increase the effectivelength of the tubing to said earth stratum, supporting means on theupper end of said tubular member, a deformable packing member carried onsaid tubular member enclosing said ports having an external diameterwhen collapsed smaller than the internal diameter of the tubing forlowering through said tubing, a removable sleeve provided with latchingmeans and normally enclosing said deformable packing member when loweredthrough said tubing, means on the lower end of said tubing adapted toengage with said latching means to prevent further downward movement ofsaid sleeve, the upper end of said sleeve being adapted to engage withsaid supporting means for supporting said tubular member, first valvemeans arranged on said tubular member within said deformable member influid communication with said first port adapted to allow fluid flowfrom said tubular member only to expand said deformable member intosealing engagement with the casing, second valve means in said tubularmember normally closing said second port, removable first restrictionmeans positionable in said tubular member below said first port forrestricting fluid passage through said tubular member to impress fluidpressure on said first valve means to open said first valve means andthereby expand said deformable member, and removable second restrictionmeans seatable on said second valve means in said tubular member foropening said second valve means by impressing fluid pressure on saidsecond restriction means thereby collapsing said deformable member.

-3. Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetratedby a cased and tubed well in which the tubing is permanently locatedwith its lower open end at a level a substantial distance above theearth stratum from which a fluid flow is obtained which comprises, incombination, an elongated tubular member open at both ends havingvertically spaced apart first and second ports intermediate the ends ofsaid tubular member adapted to be lowered through the tubing and to besupported in the lower end of the tubing to increase the effectivelength of the tubing to said earth stratum, supporting means on theupper end of said tubular member, an internally reinforced deformablepacking member carried on said tubular member enclosing said portshaving an external diameter when collapsed smaller than the in ternaldiameter of the tubing for lowering through said tubing, a sleeveprovided With latching means and normally enclosing said deformablepacking member when lowered through said tubing, means on the lower endof said tubing adapted to engage with said latching means to preventfurther downward movement of said sleeve, the upper end of said sleevebeing adapted to engage with said supporting means for supporting saidtubular member, a back pressure valve arranged on said tubular memberwithin said deformable member in fluid communication with said firstport adapted to allow fluid flow from said tubular member only to expandsaid deformable member into sealing engagement with the casing, aslidable valve in said tubular member normally closing said second port,removable first restriction means positionable in said tubular memberbelow said first port for restricting fluid passage through said tubularmember to impress fluid pressure on said back pressure valve to opensaid back pressure valve and thereby expand said deformable member, andremovable second restriction means seatable on said slidable valve insaid tubular member for opening said slidable valve by impressing fluidpressure on said second restriction means thereby collapsing saiddeformable member.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the removablerestriction means are retrievable bar plugs.

5. Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetratedby a cased and tubed well in which the tubing is permanently locatedwith its lower open end at a level a substantial distance above theearth stratum from which fluid flow is obtained which comprises, incombination, an elongated tubular member open at both ends havingvertically spaced apart first and second ports intermediate the ends ofsaid tubular member adapted to be lowered through the tubing and to besupported in the lower end of the tubing to increase the effectivelength of the tubing to said earth stratum, supporting means on theupper end of said tubular member, a deformable packing member carried onsaid tubular member enclosing said ports having an external diameterwhen collapsed smaller than the internal diameter of the tubing forlowering through said tubing, a sleeve provided with latching meansnormally enclosing said deformable packing member when lowered throughsaid tubing, means positioned on said tubing for engaging with saidlatching means for removing said sleeve from enclosing relationship withsaid deformable packing member, said sleeve being adapted to engage withsaid supporting means for supporting said tubular member, a backpressure valve arranged on said tubular member within said deformablemember in fluid communication with said first port adapted to allowfluid flow from said tubular member only to expand said deformablemember into sealing engagement with the casing, a slidable valve in saidtubular member normally closing said second port, a first retrievablebar plug positionable in said tubular member below said first port forrestricting fluid passage through said tubular member to impress fluidpressure on said back pressure valve to open said back pressure valveand thereby expand said deformable member, and a second retrievable barplug seatable on said slidable valve in said tubular mem- 7 her foropening said slidable valve by impressing fluid pressure on said secondbar plug thereby collapsing said deformablemember.

6. Apparatus for obtaining fluid flow from an earth stratum penetratedby a cased and tubed well in which the tubing is permanently locatedwith its lower open end at a level a substantial distance above theearth stratum from which fluid flow is obtained which comprises, incombination, an elongated tubular member open at both ends havingvertically spaced apart first and second ports intermediate the ends ofsaid tubular member adapted to be lowered through the tubing and to besupported in the lower end of the tubing to increase the effectivelength of the tubing to said earth stratum, supporting means on theupper end of said tubular member, a deformable packing member carried onsaid tubular member enclosing said ports having an external diameterwhen collapsed smaller than the internal diameter of the tubing forlowering through said tubing, a sleeve provided with latching meansnormally enclosing said deformable packing member when lowered throughsaid tubing, means on the lower end of said tubing for engaging withsaid latching means for removing said sleeve from enclosing relationshipwith said deformable packing member the upper end of said sleeve beingadapted to engage with said supporting means for supporting said tubularmember, a back pressure valve arranged on said tubular member withinsaid deformable member in fluid communication with said first portadapted to allow fluid flow from said tubular member only to expand saiddeformable member into sealing engagement with the casing, a slidablevalve in said tubular member normally closing said second port,frangible means releasably connecting said slidable valve to saidtubular member, a first retrievable bar plug positionable in saidtubular member below said first port for restricting fluid passagethrough said tubular member to impress fluid pressure on said backpressure valve to open said back pressure valve and thereby expand saiddeformable member, and a second retrievable bar plug seatable on saidslidable valve in said tubular member for opening said slidable valve byimpressing fluid pressure on said second bar plug thereby collapsingsaid deformable member.

No references cited.

1. APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING FLUID FLOW FROM AN EARTH STRATUM PENETRATEDBY A CASED AND TUBED WELL IN WHICH THE TUBING IS PERMANENTLY LOCATEDWITH ITS LOWER OPEN END AT A LEVEL A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE THEEARTH STRATUM FROM WHICH FLUID FLOW IS OBTAINED WHICH COMPRISES, INCOMBINATION, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS HAVINGVERTICALLY SPACED APART FIRST AND SECOND PORTS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OFSAID TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED THROUGH THE TUBING AND TO BESUPPORTED IN THE LOWER END OF THE TUBING TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVELENGTH OF THE TUBING TO SAID EARTH STRATUM, SUPPORTING MEANS ON THEUPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER,